A couple of weeks ago I came upon my son out with his support worker in community.  I heard his name spoken by someone and I lifted my head to see him happy, responding to being recognized and welcomed to the gym.  It did my heart so much good to see him there, because it isn’t always the easiest thing to let your grown son make his way into the larger world.  Because he needs support to navigate that world does not seem to increase my courage to let him go, but seeing him happy did.  That’s what this poem is about — just a mother’s heart loving her son with some space in between.

I Saw You

You were smiling
and at ease,
pleased to be
right there,
called by name
known
in this community,
off to workout
your way in the world:
on a treadmill pilgrimage
and a rowing machine adventure.

I was smiling too
and eased,
pleased to see you
right there,
called by name,
known
out in community.
So I stopped
to workout
my place in your world:
here, watching with love, releasing
you a little more into the adventure.

© 2018 – Laurel Archer